Eastern Charlotte Council says it is committed to bringing a childcare facility to the region.
In a release, it said the earliest concept of the facility began before amalgamation in 2023 in partnership with the Southwest New Brunswick YMCA.
“While various locations have been reviewed, Council remains focused on an area located on J.O. Spinney Drive in St. George, near the Magaguadavic Place Community Center.” the release said.
It said the site was selected under the former council in St. George. The municipality said it also intends, in addition to the land, to provide a financial contribution. Provincial and federal governments are providing the capital funds for the project.
It comes as the programming available to residents in Eastern Charlotte provided by the YMCA in Blacks Harbour has continually grown in users.
The program is expected to surpass 7,000 users this year.
Paige Scott, the manager of community and program development for Eastern Charlotte, said the organization is looking to expand the programming to weekends and evenings.
“We’re going to keep the momentum going, offer more programming,” she said, speaking to the council in April. “We’re a small, but mighty team. We put our heart and soul into everything that we’re doing.”
The building will have 82 spaces in total. It includes 52 designated childcare spaces, for children ages one year to five, as well as 30 after-school spaces for children aged five to 12.
“We are thrilled to partner with Eastern Charlotte to expand access to high-quality, affordable childcare,” said Adrienne Boudreau, COO of the YMCA of Southwestern New Brunswick in the release. “This new centre will provide vital support to families, help parents return to the workforce, and give children a strong foundation for lifelong learning.”
The municipality said construction estimates could be available this summer, then further conversations will take place on funding, it said in the release. Official tendering, it explained, will begin in November or December, with construction expected to begin in March 2026.
“While we appreciated that this project has long been a subject of discussion, we are now entering into an important phase of gathering cost, confirming funding support, and setting a date for construction,” said Mayor John Craig in the release. “We are anxious to see the doors of a childcare and after-school building open, and with partners such as the YMCA, we look forward to this service being offered to residents of Eastern Charlotte in the near future.”
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